chakraman
God save us from religion
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i read a while back, some of rudolph steiners "insights" into christianity. i am not a follower of his esoteric christianity, if its possible to be a follower of an interpretation that is, but i did find some of his ideas logical and interesting.
the first pertaining to the immaculate conception. i'm assuming, that generally speaking, christians believe that mary did not have physical procreative union. steiner says that this is not true and he distinguishes between body and mind/spirit and points out that it is the spirit of an advanced soul that is celibate regardless of the body which is of the earth and therefore governed by physical laws. there is also a story in the Puranas about the God incarnate Krishna,(i'm not a follower here either so no propaganda) who lived with his consort Rhada. one day a well known sage Durvasa was camped with his followers on the other side of the river. Krishna and Rhada, as good householders, prepared food for the mendicants (dharma- order). Rhada was about to deliver the food when she realised tha river was in full spate and couldnt cross it. Krishna said "go to the river and say 'if Krishna is eternally celibate, O River subside!'" Rhada new well the power of uttering the true word, but she above all knew of his amorous delights. she went to the river and asked the question, and to her surprise, the river subsided. she proceeded to take the food to Durvasa, who was pleased and ate heartily along with his disciples. when it was time to return Rhada seeing the river was again in full spate asked Durvasa for help. he said "go to the river and say 'if Durvasa is eternally fasting, O River, subside!'" she did this although she had just seen the sage eat, and the river subsided and she returned home.
it was then she realised the truth of what Krishna taught Arjuna, all action is done by Prakriti [nature] and the self is not the doer.......he who is above the gunas [constituents of Prakriti] does not abhor illumination nor impulsion to action nor delusion when they occur, nor longs for them when they cease (Bhagavad Gita 13:29, 14:22).
two birds on one tree, one eats the sweet fruit and the other looks on without eating (i.164.20).
the next question i have is do xtians believe that there was only one noah and his family and that all of humanity descended from them. my aunt ,who is a jehovahs' witness believes this and argues that because they were physically and spiritually perfect that this was possible. this has never sat right with me and again whilst reading steiner, he pointed out that the story is allegorical and that there were many noahs, which sounds right and feels logical.
thirdly the question of adam and eve. is it supposed that these were the fist "humans" and like noah and family, all descended from them. steiner postulates that in fact adam was the name given to the first race of men - the race of adam, which again sounds and feels right. also i have seen similar ideas elsewhere - a boy and girl watch, in astonishment, a procession of faeries passing them by, the boy asks "what are ye, little mannie? and where are ye going?" "not of the the race of adam," said the creature: "the people of peace shall never more been seen in scotland." katherine briggs - dictionary of faeries.
if my assumption of your interpretations are incorrect my apologies are incorrect i appologise. whilst being educated in a c. of e. school these were the intrpretations i was exposed to and like many i feel that such literal interpretation of the bible actually pushes people away, what do you think...?
the first pertaining to the immaculate conception. i'm assuming, that generally speaking, christians believe that mary did not have physical procreative union. steiner says that this is not true and he distinguishes between body and mind/spirit and points out that it is the spirit of an advanced soul that is celibate regardless of the body which is of the earth and therefore governed by physical laws. there is also a story in the Puranas about the God incarnate Krishna,(i'm not a follower here either so no propaganda) who lived with his consort Rhada. one day a well known sage Durvasa was camped with his followers on the other side of the river. Krishna and Rhada, as good householders, prepared food for the mendicants (dharma- order). Rhada was about to deliver the food when she realised tha river was in full spate and couldnt cross it. Krishna said "go to the river and say 'if Krishna is eternally celibate, O River subside!'" Rhada new well the power of uttering the true word, but she above all knew of his amorous delights. she went to the river and asked the question, and to her surprise, the river subsided. she proceeded to take the food to Durvasa, who was pleased and ate heartily along with his disciples. when it was time to return Rhada seeing the river was again in full spate asked Durvasa for help. he said "go to the river and say 'if Durvasa is eternally fasting, O River, subside!'" she did this although she had just seen the sage eat, and the river subsided and she returned home.
it was then she realised the truth of what Krishna taught Arjuna, all action is done by Prakriti [nature] and the self is not the doer.......he who is above the gunas [constituents of Prakriti] does not abhor illumination nor impulsion to action nor delusion when they occur, nor longs for them when they cease (Bhagavad Gita 13:29, 14:22).
two birds on one tree, one eats the sweet fruit and the other looks on without eating (i.164.20).
the next question i have is do xtians believe that there was only one noah and his family and that all of humanity descended from them. my aunt ,who is a jehovahs' witness believes this and argues that because they were physically and spiritually perfect that this was possible. this has never sat right with me and again whilst reading steiner, he pointed out that the story is allegorical and that there were many noahs, which sounds right and feels logical.
thirdly the question of adam and eve. is it supposed that these were the fist "humans" and like noah and family, all descended from them. steiner postulates that in fact adam was the name given to the first race of men - the race of adam, which again sounds and feels right. also i have seen similar ideas elsewhere - a boy and girl watch, in astonishment, a procession of faeries passing them by, the boy asks "what are ye, little mannie? and where are ye going?" "not of the the race of adam," said the creature: "the people of peace shall never more been seen in scotland." katherine briggs - dictionary of faeries.
if my assumption of your interpretations are incorrect my apologies are incorrect i appologise. whilst being educated in a c. of e. school these were the intrpretations i was exposed to and like many i feel that such literal interpretation of the bible actually pushes people away, what do you think...?